'Mompreneurs' offer at-home business tips

Businesswomen Jennifer Covello, left, and Suzen Pettit have developed ìMom to Mompreneur Now!î This online series of programs aims to help people learn about ways to work smart, not hard, so they can have time for family while still growing their businesses. less

Businesswomen Jennifer Covello, left, and Suzen Pettit have developed ìMom to Mompreneur Now!î This online series of programs aims to help people learn about ways to work smart, not hard, so they can have ... more

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Businesswomen Jennifer Covello, left, and Suzen Pettit have developed ìMom to Mompreneur Now!î This online series of programs aims to help people learn about ways to work smart, not hard, so they can have time for family while still growing their businesses. less

Businesswomen Jennifer Covello, left, and Suzen Pettit have developed ìMom to Mompreneur Now!î This online series of programs aims to help people learn about ways to work smart, not hard, so they can have ... more

They know the stress and guilt caused, for example, by having to choose between a client's needs and those of a sick child.

Now, through "Mom to Mompreneur Now!" a series of online programs they've developed, they're determined to help women -- especially stay-at-home mothers -- learn how to work intelligently, not hard, and leverage their family time while growing their businesses.

The series will focus on such topics as effective online marketing and using social media to increase business, as well as letting go of being a perfect parent and realizing it's "OK to be OK."

Brookfield resident Pettit, who has two daughters, and Covello, mother of a son and daughter, met about 18 months ago at a gathering for professional women. A friendship formed, and soon they joined forces for this project.

Putting it together took about four months, said Pettit, who came up with idea for the project, Covello noted.

The series of six one-hour programs will be launched Tuesday and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday through Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. Replays will be available. The cost for the series is $79.

The entire effort, Pettit explained, takes the form "of telesummits geared to moms who want to be successful mompreneurs."

"Telesummitry," said Covello, "is online learning. It's a way experts can reach a lot of people who might, perhaps, be going online in the comfort of their home.

"Using a laptop, telephone, cellphone, iPad or other devices, moms don't have to leave their homes to participate," she continued. "They have access to our experts by calling up or through a free Internet webcast."

Covello and Pettit said they believe there isn't another site like it on the East Coast, though "they're way ahead with this kind of virtual learning on the West Coast," noted Pettit.

"What we're doing differently is implementing technology already in use, but addressing topics that mompreneurs need to grow their business."

Pettit is the founder of Omaginarium, an online company that helps small businesses market their companies with optimized websites, online marketing and branding.

Covello is the owner of Frittabello baby gifts and writes about the parenting lessons she has learned while raising her children, among other things.

Together, the two women called on their fellow businesswomen to join the project and share their knowledge.

Besides Covello and Pettit, programs will be led by:

Jane Pollak, an entrepreneurial coach, who will talk about the benefits of scheduling support in your business.

Kathy McShane, managing director of Ladies Who Launch, Connecticut, who will give tips on getting the most exposure without breaking the bank.

Lena West, who specializes in using social media to build a business.

Aliza Sherman, a Web pioneer and digital strategist, who will detail how to turn your Pinterest passion into a marketing tool.

Karen Graves, founder of Your Sales Fix, teaching what it takes to build and stay in business.

Covello, who dubbed herself "a recovering supermom," will address the supermom syndrome, while Pettit will show how creating a blog can help make money while you sleep.

At the end of the day, though, what do they hope participants will gain?

"If we do nothing else," said Pettit, "we want to make sure people are walking away from this telesummit with a better understanding of how to leverage their time and skills in order to build a lucrative business."